Building a Bridge

I blogged a quick note on October 20th "Why Are Youyour people into the most efficient ways to run their
Working With Them?" and Zanna, one of my readers,business. This way you'll know what they are about
asked a great question.In my original blog post Iand what they are willing to do and they are much
suggested you're wasting your time if you continue tomore likely to follow through.What is a great technique
work with people who say they're going to....(and fill infor coaching? Asking questions until the person sees
the blank) but never actually pull it together to getherself clear to her first step. One of the first things I'd
started. The point is they never get started. We aresuggest you do is coach your new recruit to get store
not talking about what they agreed to do.I suggestedhours in place. If it were me I'd do it immediately after
to "bless 'um and move on."Zanna ask about athey'd filled out their application and paid their money.
technique to do that. She also asked how to avoidYes I mean immediately. Before we parted and made
getting caught in the cycle again when the personan appointment to meet again. Then from the
actually goes away but only for awhile. They returnbeginning their business has a clear time to
with the same promises but no action thereforeoperate.What is the usual outcome of coaching
starting the cycle again.Here's a great way to movesomeone to make their own decisions as to how they
past people who take your time (and their own) butare going to move their business forward? Typically
don't follow through. I call it "building a bridge." The bestthey'll take action on what they said they were going
way to get clear what this accomplishes is to considerto do. Why? Because it's their idea and that holds a lot
what a bridge does. It allows us to move back andmore weight than your idea.The other thing that comes
forth over something that otherwise would be difficultout of this is you're off the hook to remind and push.
to maneuver.And that's just exactly what we're goingIt's their idea what they are going to do and their time
to do. We're going to give these people a way toline. What I'd do after she decided what her first steps
come back to work (the key word there - work). Butare I'd ask her to look at her calendar (now she has
the bridge will also allow us to disconnect so we canher store hours) and make a time to get the task
free ourselves up so we can work our businesscompleted. Then make an appointment for them to call
efficiently by working with those who want to build ayou to check in and debrief about how it all went.Make
business and are willing to take the action to dosure they understand this is a real appointment. You
so.Let's look at the steps it takes to build this bridge.-are blocking time to talk in your calendar and expect
Compliment them with something that you like orthem to be there. This is step five of the "5-Steps To
admire about the way they do business or a trait theyWork Less and Make Money in Network Marketing"
bring to the table that you think will be good for theirthat are covered in the first two ezine issues. (When
business. (e.g. they are a good listener).- Then tell themyou draw boundaries and make things clear keep it in
you get that this is probably not the best time for themmind that honey often takes you much further than
to build their business, because it's tough for them tovinegar.)If they call and didn't do what they said they
take action right now.- But when they're ready to takewere going to do. Build another bridge and let them go
action you'll be right here ready to work with them.Thisagain.If they don't call at the appointed time let them go.
lets people off the hook and gives them a way toSend a build a bridge email. It might go something
leave feeling good. (That is why you make sure youlike;Sorry you missed our call. You know (name) you
compliment them first. No one needs to go awaydo blah blah really well
feeling bad.)If they do come back your job is to letand when you're ready to build your business I'm here
them decide what they think is the first thing they needto help.Short and sweet but real and final.If you apply
to do in order to move their business forward. Whythese techniques it should help you to move on from
does letting them decide make a difference?You'rethe professional "I'm gonnas" and keep your business
not telling them what to do. They are deciding whatgoing in the right direction.© 2006 Jillian Middleton
they need to do to move their business forward. WhyAll rights reserved.Jillian Middleton is a Mentor Coach
is this important? What is the first thing a two year oldand Trainer, and author of the courses '5 Steps to
says when you tell them to do something? We allWorking Less and Making More in Network Marketing'
know the answer to this even if we don't have kids,and Setting Up Your Store Hours. As creator of the
NO. Does it get better as they get older? How many'Savvy Sponsoring Strategies' Program, Jillian trains
teenagers do you know that respond well to being toldnetwork marketers and direct sales consultants the
what to do. Ask yourself, do you like being told whatsame strategies she used to build two 6-figure
to do? Certainly I don't. That's why I own anetwork marketing businesses in 5 years.
business.Rather than telling people what to do, coach